Looking Glass Rock (10-16-12)

Arguably one of the most famous mountains in North Carolina, Looking Glass Rock rises like a giant stone sentinel from the surrounding forest. Located about 10 miles north of Brevard in the shadow of the Great Balsam Range, rising a rather tame 3,970', Looking Glass is what is known as a pluton. In layman's terms, its composed of really, really hard rock (granite to be precise). While the surrounding hills eroded out, the rock of Looking Glass resisted these forces to a greater degree. What that left is the peak you see today with it's nearly 1,000 foot shear cliffs. Pluton's are by no means uncommon in this portion of the Appalachians, but Looking Glass Rock is definitely the most striking example of one.

Surprisingly, despite many years in these mountains, I had yet to climb Looking Glass. This was primarily due to the unfortunate by-product of the mountains' fame...heavy visitation. I figured if I was going to brave the inevitable crowds I wanted to do it during the most visually rewarding time of year...autumn. I picked a crisp, clear morning and got a good early start. To my utter amazement and delight I was the first vehicle at the trailhead! Someone upstairs was smiling on me this day and I was able to enjoy Looking Glass entirely on my own, no small miracle on this peak! So, off we go on what promised to be a truly spectacular walk in the hills...

Looking Glass Rock, Transylvania County (10-16-12)

The sun was just breaking over the ridge and I found myself to be the only one at the trail head...a positive beginning...

Looking Glass Rock Hike Trail Map

A snapshot of the route up Looking Glass from my handy-dandy Trails Illustrated map. Round-trip the hike would be around 6-miles with 1,700' of elevation gain...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

Nothing like morning sunshine in the treetops to put a spring in your step...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

A couple minutes in the trail crossed a pair of small streams...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

The forest here is thick but noticeably young, evidence of the intensive logging that took place here over the previous centuries...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

A strikingly bright Magnolia lights up the canopy...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

For the first mile or so the trail meanders along the ridge high above the headwaters of the Davidson River...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

Red is a rather rare fall color in the south, making you appreciate seeing it a bit more when you see it...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

As the trail makes its gradual climb over the first mile my thoughts turned to the inevitable climb that I was approaching...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

All the colors of autumn...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

Entering a Laurel tunnel...not an uncommon experience on this hike...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

Shortly after the trail gets serious about climbing a nice, albeit overgrown, rock outcrop offers some limited views of the upper Davidson River Valley...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

I can't even attempt to guess how many switchbacks you round on the way to the top. The upside of so many switchbacks is a relatively even and moderate climb...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

A peak of color through the rhododendron...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

A rather thick grove of rhododendron...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

The steepness of the climb meant that I could look downhill into the tops of the trees, glowing in the morning sun...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

Yet another blaze overhead...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

The steepest part of the climb ends about 2-miles in at around 3200'...don't be fooled though, there's still another 700' of climbing to go...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

I'm a fan of red's and orange's but I have to say, yellow's are growing on me...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

A few sections of deeply eroded trail atop the ridge were the only evidence of this trails popularity...I'm impressed how well maintained the path is despite it's reputation as one of the forest's busiest...

Looking Glass Rock Helipad

Ten minutes or so after gaining the ridge a large, open rock outcrop appears beside the trail. If you look close you can see a big letter "H" as this is a designated helipad in case of emergencies...

West Cliff Path

Now out to the lower ledges...

West Cliff Path

You ever get that feeling you're about to experience something awe-inspiring...

Looking Glass Rock -- West Cliffs

The panorama from the lower ledges. The major peaks from left to right are Pilot Mountain (5,055'), left, Mt. Hardy (6,112'), center, and Devils Courthouse (5,744'), the conifer cloaked peak to the right of center...

Looking Glass Rock -- West Cliffs

Water seeping from the forests above the cliffs has managed to cut deep grooves in the granite...

Looking Glass Rock -- West Cliffs

"One day's exposure to mountains is better than cartloads of books. See how willingly Nature poses herself upon photographers' plates. No earthly chemicals are so sensitive as those of the human soul." - John Muir

Looking Glass Rock -- West Cliffs

Scrambling (carefully) a bit farther out onto the ledges I could get a good look at the much higher cliffs yet to come...

The summit of Looking Glass, thickly wooded at only 3,969', doesn't get much prettier than this...

Looking Glass Rock Trail

One of those magical moments in the mountains...

Looking Glass Rock

My arrival at the summit ledges, after I picked my jaw up off the ground...

Looking Glass Rock

Looking north, you feel very tiny...

Looking Glass Rock

The Great Balsam Range...

Looking Glass Rock

Looking west, way west...

Looking Glass Rock

Words fail me...

Looking Glass Rock

Every guidebook will tell you of the deceptively dangerous cliffs at Looking Glass. The danger comes from the increasingly slanted angle of the cliffs the closer to the edge you get combined with hundreds of these little 'seeps' which, with one misstep, could send you sliding...

Looking Glass Rock

The peaks of Black Balsam Knob (6,214') and Tennent Mountain (6,040') can just barely be spotted peeking over the ridge,,,

Looking Glass Rock

15 miles and 4000 vertical feet of color...

Looking Glass Rock

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” -John Muir